British serviceman 'unlawfully killed' in nerve gas experiment

NOW we know: a British serviceman was unlawfully killed during chemical weapons experiments in 1953. The ruling, by an official inquest into the death of 20-year-old Ronald Maddison, could be used to back hundreds of compensation claims against the UK government by survivors of similar tests.

Maddison died after 200 milligrams of the nerve gas sarin was dripped onto his arm in experiments at the weapons research lab at Porton Down. It was initially ruled an accident, but in 1999 a new investigation was launched following demands from other servicemen who had volunteered for experiments at Porton Down (New Scientist, 30 October 1999, p 16).

On Monday, a jury decided that Maddison had not given informed consent. His family intends to sue the government for compensation.

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